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An Open Essay to the Pagan Community
By Sunfell
My Dear Reader:
As I write this, the smoke is still clearing, and the brave rescuers
are playing a massive game of ‘pick-up sticks’ at what is
left of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. This whole event has
thoroughly shocked and saddened me, and words have failed me until
now. Now that my mind is beginning to wrap itself around the
magnitude of what happened, I have some thoughts and suggestions for
the Pagan and metaphysical community at large.
Although it is true that America was attacked, this horror has global
implications. Americans are now living in a different country,
whether they understand it or not. We will never return to the
freewheeling openness that was the USA on Monday. In a very unhappy
way, we have joined the global community at large. I am a USAF
veteran, and I have lived overseas, and have seen the aftermath of
what terrorists can do: the destruction of the City of London from an
IRA bomb; scars on my military colleagues from the 1981 Heidelberg
car bomb at USAFE headquarters, the intense grief of losing military
friends and colleagues in the Pan Am Lockerbie bombing. I have
watched unedited footage of the missile attacks on Iraq and have seen
that same disbelieving look on human faces just before the picture
flared away. I have lived in places where it was strongly suggested
that blending in was the best protection an American visitor could do
so as not to become a target for terrorists. I have grieved, and I
have lived to tell the tale. I am a witness to the cautious wariness
of a country who lives daily with the specter of terrorism, as it
exists in England. My feet have crunched over broken glass in
Liverpool Street Station a mere 8 hours after the City of London was
devastated by a terrorist’s truck bomb. I have watched a wary
‘business as usual’ attitude bring Londoners out to the
streets mere hours later.
It is sad to see such wariness descending on what we considered a
'safe' place in the world. Bombs and terror were for 'other'
countries- we Americans could watch the whole thing on TV and then go
to the movies and watch aliens blow up Manhattan. Not any more. These
people lived among us, were 'sleepers' in the most terrifying sense,
and were indistinguishable from any other immigrant or long term
visitor. We must learn to combine an awareness of 'off' behavior with
tolerance for difference. Most people will not be able to pull this
off gracefully. Most people cannot tell a Sikh from a Hindu or a
Muslim. All they see is a turban and a beard. The difference is
critical. Already, Americans of Indian, Middle Eastern and Muslim
faith have been attacked. This is very wrong. Be wary and watchful,
but let the authorities do their work. That is their job. Ours is to
maintain the course of daily life, to continue in the face of this
terrible atrocity.
We must be prepared for a restriction of our privacy and some of our
freedoms, but we must also not too readily surrender too many of our
freedoms, for we will never get them back. And we must be prepared to
stoutly defend our own religious and ideological differences from
those who believe that only a religiously monolithic country will
stand. Fundamentalism in any form is a toxic meme, and must not be
succumbed to, or we will become as mentally ill as our misled and
ignorant religious foes.
We are a magickal community, and have 'connections' to capabilities
and understandings that the world at large does not have. I suggest
that we cultivate our gifts- create and sustain an egregorical
community that serves to protect one and all, Pagan and not, from the
both the physical and the psychological terror that has come to our
shores. An Egregore, for those of you new to the Craft and its Kin,
is a magickal construct that serves to inform and protect a
community. My suggestion is that we tap into the American Egregore,
using the Eagle and the Star as its symbol, feed and strengthen it by
ritual work and meditation, and build a metaphysical shield around
not only America, but also the whole world. Those of us who create
both art and ritual are encouraged to do so, and share with us their work.
Our more psychically sensitive members should tune in and try to keep
journals of what they feel is happening around the country and
perhaps the world. But they should refrain from wild speculation
'prophecy' and rumor mongering. Now, more than ever, it is important
to verify the source of things learned, or we will make things worse
by jumping at shadows. We should ask our creative people to create a
symbol of our shield- a solid white upright five-pointed star with an
eagle’s watchful eye in the center on a dark blue background,
similar, perhaps to the Eye of Horus, but distinctively American.
Those of us who have websites should post this symbol to demonstrate
to all visitors that we are a nexus in the protective metaphysical
network that is being actively built and nurtured. The Christians can
pray; but so can we, and more.
We must be careful not to succumb to infighting or religious bashing
no matter where it comes from. Already, fingers have been pointed and
we and other kindred have been named by certain religious leaders as
the 'cause' of this tragedy, simply because we choose to interpret
God and Country in a manner they disapprove of. We must be vigilant
not to permit them to point us out and vilify us for our differences.
The shield is as much for our protection as it is for this country
and planet. We must stand together, or we will be swept away by
religious and patriotic hysteria. If that happens, the terrorists
will have accomplished their goal of destroying our civilization and
human trust. Perfect Love and Perfect Trust may be a rare commodity
in these trying times, but we must continue to cultivate it,
tempering it with intelligent common sense.
We must, in this order, work to weave a web of strength, peace, and
healing, connecting first to God/dess, our families, friends,
community, country and planet. We must never forget that we are
greater than any evil done to us, and must make each act an
affirmation of our humanity. We must not surrender to hysteria,
rumor, hatred, or misinformation. We must become Warriors of Light,
walking in strength in the footsteps of the Mighty Ones.
This terror has been a tragic test of our humanity and strength. My
hope and prayer is that we will emerge from this darkness and this
crucible better than we were, and pass this test of trouble and
horror. Our work, words and actions in the following weeks and months
will be critical to the fate of this country. We must be strong, work
with compassion and intelligence, and be open to our own particular
inner Guidance. We each must serve as anchors of Light, Life, and Love.
A final note: Much has been made of the date: 9.11, the national
number for emergencies. I shall add another interesting coincidence-
that Tuesday is named after the Norse Judgement God Tyr (Tiw), who
placed his hand into the mouth of the rabid Fenris Wolf of war, to
allow the Gods to bind its jaws shut with a magickal ribbon. Tyr lost
his right hand as a result, but the world was saved. The runic symbol
for Tyr is the upright spear, Tiwaz. It is the symbol that the Norse
warriors painted on their shields. Tyr was invoked for victory in
battle by the Norse, who were some of the fiercest warriors in
Europe, frightening the Romans into building Hadrian’s Wall on
the Scottish border. It is interesting to note, however that they
also engaged in peaceful trade with the people of the Middle East,
moving their ships overland to the Black Sea and parts east. There is
much we can learn from this.
May you find peace, comfort and common sense in the difficult days to come.
Blessings Be
September 16, 2001
Sunfell www.sunfell.com |
